What is activation?

Activation validates your software license to prevent fraud and abuse of Adobe products and services. The activation process sends information to Adobe at various times, such as at download, installation, uninstallation, serialization, launch, and during update checks for Adobe software. Adobe may also use this information to provide you with license renewal options and to help us understand how you use our products.

Note:

Activation stores information about your license in encoded form on the system hard drive of your computer. Application versions prior to CC 2019 store this information in a shared Adobe directory. Applications version CC 2019 or later store this information in per-user OS secure storage using credential entries whose names start with Adobe at the following locations:

macOS: Login keychain

Windows: Credential Manager

What is deactivation?

Deactivation disconnects an application from a valid user license. Once deactivated, you can reactivate at any time, if you choose. You do not need to uninstall an application from your computer to deactivate it. Uninstalling an application does not necessarily deactivate its license.

A single license for Adobe software lets you install an application on two computers—for example, at home and in the office. If you want to install the software on a third computer, first you must deactivate one installation of the application. Here’s how.

Adobe Acrobat XI and X activate automatically as soon as the software detects an internet connection. To activate Acrobat manually, use the Activate command. For issues, see Activation and deactivation troubleshooting.

Creative Suite 5 apps activate automatically as soon as the software detects an internet connection, or the software prompts you to activate it during installation. For issues, see Activation and deactivation troubleshooting.

* Choose one of the following options to deactivate Acrobat XI, X, Creative Suite 6, and Creative Suite 5:

Deactivate or Suspend Activation: These options deactivate the software but retain licensing information on your computer. Choose one of these options if you want to deactivate the software temporarily, and you are planning to activate it on this computer again.

Deactivate permanently: This option deactivates the software and removes the licensing information from your computer. If you want to use the software on this computer again, reenter the serial number.

Find your serial number or redeem your redemption code

Some products require you to enter your serial number before you can start using your product. If your product came with a redemption code, you use it to obtain your serial number.

Activate an app on a new computer

If you want to install your product on a new computer, you need to first deactivate it on one of the computers. Once deactivated, you can then install the product on your new computer.

Computer no longer available?

If the computer on which you installed the product is no longer available, contact us to update the activation information in the system. Once the information is removed, you can install the product on a new computer.

FAQ

What information is sent to Adobe during activation?

The following types of information may be sent to Adobe during activation:

Identifiers (IDs)

Unique IDs (generated by Adobe) specific to your machine and to the license you have purchased for the software. These IDs cannot be used to locate your machine or identify you personally.

Your Adobe ID, if you have logged in to Adobe as part of the installation, update, or use of the Adobe software. The Adobe ID personally identifies you, and links to all information that you have provided to Adobe while creating or using your Adobe account. If you or your company uses an administrator or other authorized party for the foregoing, Adobe may also receive the Adobe ID of that party.

Installed Adobe product information

Serial numbers associated with the installed product licenses

Product name and version number; license type purchased

Version of End-User License Agreement associated with the software

The number of times you have launched an Adobe application since the last activation, for each application that is associated with the product license

Operating system information

Operating system type and version

Locale (language dialect and writing system) in use

Local machine time (including time zone)

Machine name

MAC address

IP address

The IP address assigned to you by your Internet service provider is received by Adobe as part of the process of sending the activation data to Adobe.